Reporter: Ritu Saxena, Ph.D.
On December 4, 2012, molecular diagnostic firm Invivoscribe Technologies launched a personalized medicine company. Genection is offering both routine and esoteric genetic tests, exome and whole-genome sequencing, cancer somatic mutation testing, and pharmacogenomics.
Because the Genection model is not payor-driven, it said, it can provide doctors access to genetic tests that are currently unavailable, overlooked, or inaccessible through their patients’ health plans and healthcare institutions.
The privately held company added that it has agreements in place with several CLIA- and CAP-certified laboratories, including ARUP Laboratories, Foundation Medicine, Cypher Genomics, Invivoscribe’s wholly owned subsidiary the Laboratory for Personalized Molecular Medicine and LPMM’s laboratory in Martinsried, Germany. It also has relationships with Illumina and Ambry Genetics and agreements with “a consortium” of genetic counselors.
“In order to make personalized molecular medicine a clinical reality, new platforms need to be developed for the delivery of healthcare. Genection’s mission seeks to accelerate this adoption process,” Genection Chief Medical Officer Bradley Patay said in a statement. “The combination of CLIA-validated genetic testing, whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing, and broad targeted assays, along with critical bioinformatics, analytic tools, and interpretative guidelines will contribute to timely definitive diagnoses for patients with rare, unexplained diseases or complex diseases; in essence, this integration will speed delivery of genomic test results and improve patient care.”
The company profile states that because the cost of genomic sequencing has declined steeply, utilizing deep sequencing of tumors, doctors can now offer targeted treatments to the specific type of cancer for each patient. This personalized approach may offer better treatment options that are tailored for each individual versus conventional approaches. For example, The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network found a potential therapeutic target in most squamous cell lung cancers. Genetic testing would also be able to provide insight on drug’s effectiveness and help a physician tailor the dosage and/or select another drug if it’s determined that you have a genetic variant that could affect the drug’s efficacy.
Source:
http://www.genomeweb.com//node/1159221?hq_e=el&hq_m=1425051&hq_l=3&hq_v=e618131fd2
Invivoscribe Technologies: http://www.invivoscribe.com/
Genection: http://www.genection.com/
Dr. Saxena,
is this available only in the EU right now? i wonder if there have been any guidelines issued about deep sequencing of tumors in the US yet? I don’t know of anything the FDA has put out or the NCI for that matter. Are there guidelines here in the US or is this going to be up to the individual oncologist as to the analysis of a patient’s cancer genome?
Dr. Williams,
Genection is actually based in San Diego, CA. From what I understood, the company actually streamlines the diagnostic process by being the connecting point between the healthcare provider and the patient. It provides access to genetic counselors who can recommend the appropriate diagnostic tests for a patient– represents practice of personalized medicine. Patients and providers can then access the test results via Genection.
The guidelines that I am aware Genection follows are those of HIPAA, in other words, right to privacy of medical information of patients. I am assuming that the company would not be influencing the decision of genetic and diagnostic tests made by doctors and healthcare providers. They are simply the resource for personalized medicine-based tests.